Embarrassing Embassies

[Kaiser Kirk]

a) Interesting rendering. I wanted to learn how to do that, actually bought some software, never had the time. 
b) here I was planning to make my Princess Shir-rin a bit of a spitfire, but I see she will not be nearly as formidable.
c) odd trivia - apparently the Parthians have been making Silk in Gilan province on the Southwest side of the Caspian Sea since the 1400s.

[Desertfox]

Kogoro was please after his first meeting with the new Ambassadrice. Translation had been a problem as it always was at first. But the young lady knew enough Mayan for a working conversation. He had been surprised at her young age and had been concerned about it at first, until he remembered that the great Emperor Meiji had himself been crowned at only 15. He had heard stories about the young lady's temper but none of that was in display, she appeared to be very curious and well learned. Well stories had a way of getting embellished especially by those with an agenda, and Kogoro knew very well how many agendas would be circulating in any palace, no matter its location or culture, some things never changed.

The meeting had gone well, after the pleasantries, a series of general questions and answers from both sides about culture and protocol, including among other things dress. The Inca tailors had done impressive work crafting Japanese style clothes for the Ambassadrice. The young lady's drive was most impressive. It had been a long and productive day and plans had been set to meet a few more times if possible before the Ambassadrice sailed for Japan.

Kogoro had failed in one thing. He was no closer to meeting the great Sapa Inca himself. But there would be time for that in the future, in the meantime his network of connections in the palace kept growing as did his knowledge of this mysterious country and he even had an invitation to travel out into the Nazca Desert to see what was described as giant sculptures visible only from the skies . 

[maddox]

Inti yaykuy , or translated "Inti Welcoming feast" 1912. (summer solstice)
By accident or design, 2 days before Ambassadar Yma will leave for the far away "Japanese Empire"

Sapa Inca's palace in Cuzco. The main keep is a beehive of festivities. The whole Sapa Inca's family is there, and some of the more important Hunu Kuraka. And for the first time in history foreigners of a non conquered people.
Kogoro, the grey haired Japanese ambassadar and his aide, but also the captain of a Parthian navy frigate² and a Mayan delegation³.

Most of the time Sapa Inca is actualy doing nothing, being shielded by a group of very stern looking bodyguards and 2 Inti priests. 
In contrast, High Priest Chualpi is making the rounds, sampling anything edible and drinkable. Talking to everybody, from the lowest servant, to the most aloof Hunu Kuraka. But he's demonstratively avoiding Yma and her father Achiyacu.   
Another absence is obvious for the Incans. No lorekeepers, nor seekers are there. Not even some of the Sapa Inca's friends from the time he was learing at the House of Knowledge.

But once the sun is setting, and most of the youngsters and non politicial connected people left, even 10 of the Hunu Kuraka and their entourage, Càpac changes from being an ornament to a leader, and with the aid of the very jovial , even clearly tipsy Chualpi he gathers the foreign envoys.

Takahira Kogorō in his Japanese Ambassadorial Uniform

The bewildered Parthian captain, who never had expected that the courtesy visit would end up so far above his paygrade, is still grasping for air*
And the Mayan chief of the delegation, who's cleary not used to the Incan Pisco.

Hunu Kuraka Achiyacu and his daughter Yma attend this small gathering as well.


Gentlemen. Before we're going to watch my peoples sacrifice to Inti, to honor his longest presence on a day, I can inform you, the Inca Empire is going to reach out hands of friendship over the world.

² Parthian long range frigats do appear semi regulary in the Inca ports. But untill now, nothing more happened than an Incan sailor being taken up as a replacement and/or exchanged pleasantries by the harbormasters. Loading of consumables was not a problem, as the Incans seem to have well conserved food in abundance. The exchange was most of the time strange. The Incans don't want gold, or in such quantities it seemed totaly out of value for the consumables.  Steel implements on the other hand, that got a very very favorable trade.
* not only from the people he's meeting, but also, Cuzco is about 3300m or 10 000feet above sealevel. Luckely, his escort has given him a handfull of leaves to chew that help against the mountain sickness.

³The Mayans were asked to send a delegation. It was pure coincidence they arrived in time for this imperial holiday.

[snip]

Late July 1912. Imperial Roman Colony of Amazonia

Sára Němeček was a long way from the streets of Budapest. But the industrialist's daughter, the youngest of five children, had never been one to stay around one place for to long. Sára, like many other children of those who had minted their wealth in Pannonia's rapid industrialization, had access to almost endless money. Rather than spend it on lavish gowns and fancy parties, Sára had used her money, really her father's, to buy a ship in late 1900. That ship marked the beginning of Němeček Maritime, and over the last twelve years the company had grown consistently. Two years ago, Sára had manage to negotiate a part in the transport of supplies and troops to what had become Novus Francia. As part of that operation, the Němeček Maritime crews and ships proved to be some of the finest. What they lacked in numbers, they made up for in quality. When the Amazonia expedition was put together, Němeček Maritime won an exclusive contract to handle all the government shipping to and from the new colony. Business was booming, and Sára had recently returned to Venice to finalize the purchase of several new cargo ships that were poised to double the capacity of Němeček Maritime. An acquisition of a failing rival was also in the works, which would make Němeček Maritime the premier Roman-flagged shipping company for South Atlantic trade.

Sára's success had come at the expense of a traditional social life. Having founded Němeček Maritime at the age of 23, she was never married. Now 35, it was not in her future. That did not mean she didn't occasionally find some more-than-friendly company. Various ports around the Atlantic held stories that would make her old-fashioned mother blush fierce shades of red. In Amazonia, she had meet Manko, a trader from the Incan Empire. The two had started negotiating over some goods, the negotiations turned into dinner, and dinner turned into a return to Sára's, office for a more intimate form of conversation. She and Manko and continued an on-again/off-again relationship as there travels took them together and apart. This day found them laying on a secluded section of the beach, slowly dressing after another round of "negotiations".

"I told you before," Sára began while slipping back into a navy-blue ankle-length skirt. "Getting high quality steal like that is hard. Not impossible, but hard. It's a high demand item, and not quite enough of it comes available in your price range. Unless you can give me more in return there is not much I can do."

"Well, I'm always pleased to be able to haul some back." Manko worked on buttoning up his shirt. "Even what you would consider mid-grade steel is harder to acquire in the Empire. With our recent efforts at expansion its only going to be in higher demand."

"Let's formalize a purchase agreement then." Sára replied as she tucked her shirt into the waistband of her skirt and tightened her belt. "So that way nobody gets surprised on costs. We can also arrange warehouse space here as a hand-off point."

"That is a sound plan." Manko said, brushing sand off his feet before slipping some sandals back on. "I have another question for you Sára."

Sára finished pulling her hair back and met Manko's eyes before replying. "This better not be about that pistol again. I've sworn up and down it was not fully loaded."

Manko chuckled. "Its not that, tho I still think we need to settle that outstanding issue." He grinned mischievously.

Sára playfully slapped Manko across the face. "There is nothing to settle unless I say there is. Now what was your question."

"I have a dear friend in the Incan government." Manko seemed much more serious. "His name is Señor M. Recently he brough a matter to my attention that was most peculiar." Manko explained, while Sára sat back down on the blanket the two had lain on. After the long monolog, Manko concluded. "So, do you know anyone who would be able to help?"

Sára though deeply before replying. "I think I might, but I'm not sure I can get you everything you ask for. I'm a merchant, not a spy."

The pair finished cleaning up the blanket and began the walk back to the port.

[maddox]

Interlude.

A small riverboat from upstream arrived at Manaus, and a Incan Chasqui is seen running the cobbled streets towards Manko trading house.

Parcels and 1 message tube are left with the trader. 

[maddox]

The day after ...

Inti yaykuy. 

Inca palace Cuzco.
Maid Urpu brushing Yma's long black hair.
Yma wispers: A great day today, the official leave of the age of folly and entering the age of responsibility. Lucky most of the revelers of yesterday won't be around, so that makes life easier.

Yes Mistress. A great day, and one that also will change our interactions and take on life itself. I'm happy you reconsidered the wish for me to come along to the shogunate, euh, Japanese Empire. I wish they should make up their minds.

I regret that you won't join me in the great endeavor, but I understand your wish to stay with your kids and husband. I could have ordered you, but that would kill our friendship. So, your replacement will have to deal with the situation. But why dad elected to hire a Shuar widow, the only thing I can see is that he thinks I need a guardian.    
A SHUAR?  My darling, a savage, not even a generation accepted into Inca, one of the most fierce Green hell demon tribes... How will she fullfill her duties to you?  Oh no,  I can't let you leave. I need to go with you, nonono, that is not acceptable.

Urpu, calm down , you made your case clear, and your leaders have made a decision in your favor. Don't destroy that trust by acting like a thaski denied some sweets.
Also, please go on with your duties. Today you will make me into the most impressive new Warmi the empire has seen in ages.  Because tomorrow, at dawn, I'll be sailing away from you. Give me at least this day to remember for the rest of our memories.

[maddox]

Yma is looking to the darkening harbor of Lima. Delays all over haunted the start of the long voyage to Japan. But at last, hours overdue, she's under way.

Now, more language and cultural lessons... Luckely, Yasunori is a handsome man.

[maddox]

32 days later, Inca ambassadorial ship Sunbeam

Yma muses.
A whole month, with boring food, boring cultural and languages lessons from a handsome but stonefaced Japanese guy, and even more boring views, sea, sea, and even more sea.  Not even a little storm to break the monotomy.

But at last, land is sighted, and the crew is preparing a lot of things, even some gilded lamps get an extra polish.

The captain is actualy exited, he and his first officer were congratulating each other by the extreme accuracy of their sailing and the frugal use of coal to support their speed.
Hawai is in sight. But, the information of who controls those islands is vague. Are the indigenous people still basking in Inti's rays, or are they supplanted by foreigners with better technology? Even Yasunori is not sure about that, and his last information agrees on her own.

But land at last. Restocking on comsumables will be nice. Returning home is possible without restocking, but totaly unappetizing. Freezedried army rations keep very well, and the water distilling unit worked flawlessly the whole trip, food and water, no problem. But just survival, no tate nor fun...

[Desertfox]

Im sure she can get the Yasunori to open up... What date do they reach Hawaii?

[Kaiser Kirk]

The captain is actualy exited, he and his first officer were congratulating each other by the extreme accuracy of their sailing and the frugal use of coal to support their speed.
Hawai is in sight. But, the information of who controls those islands is vague. Are the indigenous people still basking in Inti's rays, or are they supplanted by foreigners with better technology? Even Yasunori is not sure about that, and his last information agrees on her own.

Hawaii : Historically was seized from the natives by planters. So here I made that the merchants who ran the trade port in 1898.  Parthia conquered it, kicked them out, King Kamehameha.

The citizens of the Glorious Port Village of Pear were shocked as the task force sailed into harbor. The ancient iron hulled steam frigates the locals counted as a navy were manned, but did not have steam pressure up. There would be no difference if they had, for the Boran was more than a match for them, and the War Chariot class battleship that served as flagship completely outclassed both frigates and the coastal battery.  The scores of ships carried thousands of personnel. There was fighting, it was short and swift. The locals were informed that they had been conquered.  A party was dispatched to where King Kamehameha was held, hostage to native good behavior.  The King was freed and informed that Hawaii was now a Parthian Protectorate. 

King Kamehameha had spent many days both reestablishing contact with his folks, and being briefed on the documents the Parthians had prepared. The Parthians had explained that his people had options, but many things were not negotiable.  Pearl city and it's environs would be a Parthian Imperial City. The natives would be civilized.

Functionally that means inside the bounds of the Port, Parthian law reigns.  Outside the port, native Warriors have  guard & trade post on the road, and Kamehameha is *mostly* in control.  Surfaced roads are being built,  and clusters of buildings constituting a post office, school,  and medical office are being slowly built.  Scholars are cataloging and observing agriculture here, but there are few other Parthians in Hawaiian territory. [/i]

Parthia is administrating Pearl City as an Open Port, so coal and provisions are available.
There is a Parthian squadron in the harbor.  A frigate, much like the wreck found in the Straits - but in much better condition, a small (3000t) scout cruiser, and a 'predreadnaught' of 13000 tons. There are a large number of parthian flagged freighters in the harbor,  at least twenty, and more appear to be in the distant reaches. A large military encampment, suitable for thousands, sits on a hill, star-shaped trenches dug about it.

I'll leave it to you if you want to make your presence officially known or just be anonymous merchants in a spectacular vessel... hmm...

[maddox]

Sunbeam,

Lookouts yell "ships spotted, many ships".
After a while, the captain opens up his spyglass and tells: "I know that style of ships. Some are Parthians, most of'm are."

Yma hears that, and remembers the Parthian captain at the Inti yaku festival.
Captain, it seems I have a job to do. Can we get the ship decorated in time to pronounce our dipomatic status?

My lady, to go full regalia, we will need time. Idealy we should have started yesterday. But yes, we can slow down a bit (bellows appropriate orders to achive that), and at least start on the basics on the show. First things we should do is to hoist the Royal Banner and your personal flag. Any additions?

Make it so captain, I'm going to put on my ambassadorial dress. 
Yanua will love this. Her first public appearance as my Lady in waiting*. Should I ask her to go traditional Shuar? Or Incan Shuar?  Or in her official dress?

My lady, I'm the last person to ask. But I would think, Incan Shuar.

Thank you captain. Time to earn our stipends


*In this case, Yanua (Shuar for Sun), was chosen because she's the widow of the Shuar Pachaka Kuraka, and keeping her at the Imperial court seemed a good idea to buttress the ties between the still fearsome Green hell demon tribe and the Inca rulers.
Achiyacu also made it clear that Yanua's role is that of a confidante, bodyguard personal trainer and hopefully, friend for the headstrong Yma.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Harbor has signs of new construction all over, from the shining lighthouse outside the channel, to the new harbor markers and wharves.  New buildings are clean and well built, while the old town the unplanned construction over time is evident.
The greeting party at the wharf is few at first, with a confused harbor official. The Port master is Ma'nu of Bashere, a swarthy man, clean shaven, and wears a knee-length brocaded silk robe of office over his clothes. The matter of translation is quickly solved by summoning several people and keeping the gentleman who is best able to assist. Once that is accomplished, and poor Ma'nu knows who has come to call, he dispatches messengers.

A small honor guard of Parthian Soldiers show up, 12 men, and 4 women. Like most Parthians, their uniform is a tunic and trousers with an over jacket and kneehigh boots. Green piping and braid contrast well with the grey background. Each wears a sash from a shoulder epaulet to the waist, several the same green, but two with individual designs.   The guests are asked their desires, aides are dispatched to arrange them, and they are shown to the council hall.  The journey is short allows them to observe the town is clean, and there is an abundance of work occurring, in the old town mainly fixing the structures, with the new construction in the distance.  Steam powered tractors with flywheels are being used to power lifts at construction sites and there seems to be one making bricks of a soil, straw and water mix.

At the council hall they are received by the Satrap (Governor) Atossa of House Spandiyadh. She an older lady, certainly has grown children, likely grandchildren.  Her dark brown hair is streaked with silver and pinned in place, her face tanned, and her eyes a striking green.  She has also donned her robes of state, a more elaborately worked set, with threads of gold in the silk. She has a number of assistants and councilors.  Two of those standing among the councilors look greatly different, and you suspect they are native to the island. A herald introduces both parties and she speaks.

"I bid our guests welcome to the Parthian Imperial City of Pearl, and the Kingdom of Hawaii. Please assure yourselves that if we give offense, it is not intent, but rather ignorance of your customs. It is my hope to hear of your travels and host you at dinner."

[maddox]

Arriving at the -now named- Pearl Harbor, the delegation awaiting her is rather "quaint", but as quaint means, charming in its honnest simplicity.

It seems they reacted as best as they could to the display the Sunbeam has put up in the short time available.

But then, the marvels of the world outside the Inca Empire were shown, Steam powered devices replacing dozens , even hundreds of workers. Stone made from dirt and a lot of power. 
The location is also wonderous. Jungle without demons, mountains without the harsh winds, sun without the burning of the desert. Inti shines on this land.

And then the reception at the council hall.  The leader, a dignified lady and a sight to behold does make a great impression.

After only a eyeblink, Yma accepts the invitation and yes, trough the translators does show her youth, but also her upbringing and dedication to her task.

One of the things she asks, and gets permission for, is leave for the crew of the Sunbeam.

Restocking the ship and trade for that will take at least 2 days, so everybody of the crew can have at least 16h of leave.

A result of this diplomatic meeting is the promise from Satrap Atossa is that she'll send a message to Lima, with invitations to open more frequent diplomatic and trade channels and the news that Sunbeam and Ambassadrice Yma arrived hale and well in the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Unfortunatly, Yasunori seems displeased with the situation, and the only remark he made, in private, very stonefaced and formal to the point of being as cold as the highest mountain top can be interpreted: "these islands don't belong to those foreigners".
He didn't show this attitude during the meetings with the Parthian officials. He was as polite as any diplomat could wish for.
On the other hand, he could have rolled with the best of the Hunu Kuraka at court, exchanging a lot of words, conveying friendlieness and such, but adding no information or meaning whatsoever.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Parthians seem suprised at the shore leave request - but of course.  They are expected to conduct themselves with honor, but we believe what is known of the laws of your land is close enough there should be no troubles.

The individuals on shore leave will find that the older section of port is somwhat poorly constructed and populated with people from a range of countries. Those along the shores of the Pacific are well represented, the Aztec and Chinese in particular.
The trade port, a common stopping point in the Pacific with a great sheltered harbor, has a range of goods and services. The Parthian presence here is light, but Parthian constables and inspectors go about their business.

The newer part of town is under construction, and is filled with hundreds of Parthians hard at work.   Steam power is heavily used as an assist. There seems to be a surveyed town laid out, with streets marked from central circular areas. The few completed buildings look solidly built, but time has been taken to carve or stamp artistic touches on them.  If the gleaming white lighthouse outside the harbor is any indication, the structures will be handsome.

Freshly graveled roads lead from the town to the West and to the SouthEast. To the west, at the North end of the harbor, the Parthian military encampments are located and guards at a roadside watchstation will indicate the road is closed. . Hundreds of soldiers, perhaps thousands, can be seen on distant parade grounds conducting drills. To the SouthEast the road runs towards the native capital of Honolulu, which has an undeveloped harbor.  This road has a different guardpost on a low ridgetop.  This one is adjacent to a knee-high wall that only extends several hundred meters on each side. The guards here do not appear to be Parthian, but rather natives. They are armed with what appear to be Parthian-issue rifles, and will explain (if a mutual language is found) that the Kingdom of Hawaii is barred to travelers without permision to enter.

The Parthian dinner is a mid-sized affair with perhaps a dozen people, the Satrap hosting.  A pair of military officers representing the land and sea forces, a number of leading artisans and guildleaders, and a pair of natives. The majority are male, with a variety of ages. The latter are introduced as Ministers from the Hawaiian King.  The food is a mixture of Parthian and native dishes.  The conversation is pleasant, but not very deep.

Atossa is willing to make the requested promise. If prompted she will explain that there presence here is the strategic harbor. While Parthia only needs the harbor and the nearby fields to feed and defend it, this means they will defend the islands from further interlopers, making the Kingdom a protectorate. She will say that their hope is for the Kingdom of Hawaii to choose to move beyond protectorate status, but they do not require it.  After dinner, some performers sing and dance, one must remember this is far from their talent pool.

[maddox]

Lima.

Japanese Embassy. 
Ambassador Takahira.musing when enjoying his tea,  that was very fast work of the Home office, loading a merchant with the radio-equipment , finding the engineers, and even pointing out a local businessman that had a riverbarge available big enough to fit everything in, even waterpowered generators.

The Support Transmitter/Reciever station in Manaus is working , but very sensitive to weather.  But when it works, diplomatic telegrams will travel the world in a day. But the weather issue will be solved with the erection of the radio towers, replacing the expensive and fragile ballon antenna.

Sir, several message and dispatches from the homefront.
Some of those come in the Inca tubes, others are envelopes with wax seals, and one a silk wrapped package.

Reports from the situation with China, reports from the expansion efforts in the East Indies, ah, and a questionaire about a weapons trade.
Opening the weapons questionaire.

Yes, that was discussed, the Inca like the rotator weapons, yes, I did approve the sharing of information on those. My aide traveled to the Sapa Inca to deliver the information we have... WHAT?  The Inca want the 5barreled desings delivered as soon as possible? 
We did tell them that those are at best an experimental design and a prototype slapped together with only a few dozen handmade rounds to test it.
This will have to rectified before it gets out of hand. I'll ask Hunu Kuraka Achiyaku to get this potential problem solved before it explodes in our faces.

But yes, we can sell the tribarrels now, and use funds for the development of the 2" 5 barrel versions.  Hmm, another translation error it seems, 57mm isn't in development for the rotators.


Other message.
Danshaku Ryukichi Kawata wants jaga-imo cultivars. The current breeds could use some develepment, and it seems the Inca were the originators of this food crop, they call it papa or akshu.
Potato's for guns. 

And the silk wrapped package. A letter from home.

Some time later. A Japanese merchant is loading tons of potato's in all their forms. Flats of seedlings, boxes full of the poisonous berries, tubers sorted by breed and size, in barrels and fabric bags. Even canned freezedried potato-powder. Something the Inca gouverment stores by the ton. It doesn't go bad for a very long time, and isn't heavy in itself, and provides a good basic food.